Georgia's Springer Mountain, 90 miles north of Atlanta, is the southern terminus of the 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail. The trail winds for about 75 miles through deep forest and along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering long-range views of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Because of the trail's popularity with overnight hikers, tent campsites are fairly common.

Trailside

The Forest Service allows dispersed camping in the Chattahoochee National Forest (fs.usda.gov) surrounding the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Campers who pitch their tent trailside in the forest must follow "Leave No Trace" principles to reduce their impact on the area. Camp at least 200 feet from any source of water and 100 feet from the trail. Pack out anything you pack in, use a cat hole for human waste and leave the campsite undisturbed. Fires are permitted as long as they're attended and as long as they're completely extinguished before you break camp. The Forest Service reminds campers that bears are active in the area, so learn bear safety before you set out.

Shelters

While it's permissible to pitch your tent anywhere along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, shelters and the impromptu tent campgrounds that spring up around them provide access to pit toilets and running water. Georgia has a dozen shelters along the trail, including a restored stone house at 4,450 feet elevation on Blood Mountain, the highest point on the trail in the state. The distance between shelters varies from 1.2 miles between the Woods Hole and Blood Mountain shelters to 12.3 miles between Gooch Mountain and Woods Hole.

State Park and National Forest Developed Campgrounds

The U.S. Forest Service campground at Andrews Cove is a two-mile hike from the Appalachian Trail near Helen, Georgia. The five-site campground has running water, vault toilets and tent pads with picnic tables. Amicalola Falls State Park (gastateparks.org), 12 miles from the southern terminus of the trail, is the traditional starting point for hikers planning to spend several days on the trail. The park's campground has two-dozen sites, some with water and electric hookups. Vogel State Park near Blood Mountain and Brasstown Bald has 103 developed campsites. Backcountry camping is permitted along the Coosa Trail, a strenuous hike in the park winding up the mountain to the trail.

Considerations

Early spring and late fall are the best times to hike the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. March is the busiest time on the southern portion of the trail because thru-hikers -- people who intend to walk the entire trail to Maine over the course of several months -- begin in Georgia so they reach the northern end before snow sets in. If you're camping in the backcountry, carry a water treatment kit or plan to boil your drinking water. Dogs are allowed on the trail in Georgia as long as they're under your control and don't harass wildlife.

About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.